11 Best Arts and Crafts for 1 Year Olds

Choosing art supplies for 1 year old children can be difficult. There are many different products available, it can be overwhelming trying to choose something. Here, we have reviewed some of the best craft products which are suitable for children aged around 12 months old and above. There’s sure to be something your little artist will love here! We also have some tips and advice to help parents and carers find the perfect creative activities for 1 year olds. There are loads of great art projects for 1 yr olds, which we will also take a look at here.

11 Best Arts and Crafts for Toddlers age 1 Year Old

Below, you will find our pick of 11 of the best art supplies for 1 year old girls and boys. There’s sure to be something to give you inspiration, and get your little one having a great time learning new skills!

1. Aquadoodle Mat

The Aqua Doodle is perfect for parents who are worried about the mess made by arts and crafts with young children. The pen contains only water, so if your child draws on anything it won’t leave a mark! The doodle mat folds away for easy storage, or for easy transport. There are also stencils included, so older children can learn how to write letters and draw shapes.

The Aquadoodle mat can be reused again and again, as the drawings disappear after around 15 minutes. Young children will love to watch the colors appear by magic as they draw – there are 10 different colors in stripes which appear when they get wet. The water drawing set is ideal for keeping toddlers entertained when away from home too – it doesn’t take up much room in a bag, and you don’t have to worry about making a mess in someone else’s house!

2. Crayola Mess Free Coloring Board

Mess free coloring is every parent’s dream! This reusable drawing board comes with crayons, which can be easily erased after use. The reverse of the board has some gel inside, so kids can do ‘finger painting’, but without the mess! The Crayola mess free board is sturdy, so it’s perfect for younger children as it can’t be torn up like paper! The crayons are triangular for an easier grip, and there is a crayon holder on the side of the board to keep them handy!

The double doodle board is ideal for keeping children entertained whilst in the car or waiting somewhere ‘boring’, and you don’t have to worry about them making a mess. It’s a good idea to supervise younger children when using the crayons however, particularly if they are still at the stage where they enjoy to taste everything!

3. Self Inking Stamps Pack of 10

This stamp pen set is a great learning activity for 1 year olds. There are 10 stampers included, with each of the digits 0 – 9. So, it’s ideal for helping with early number recognition, and with older children the stampers can be used to make sums fun! Even before children understand numbers, they will enjoy playing with the stampers and using them to decorate pictures and make cards!

The self-inking stamps have the ink built in, so all kids need to do is remove the lid and press down! This can help eliminate some of the mess which usually happens when using ink pads and stampers. And when the stampers dry out, you can still continue to use them by buying a separate ink pad, so they are really great value for money!

4. String Necklace Set

It can be difficult to find string beads which are suitable and safe for younger children. These ones are great because they are big and chunky, so they are easy to grip. It’s important to still supervise younger children when playing with the beads however. Toddlers will love using the threading beads to make necklaces and bracelets – they will love showing off their creations to everyone too! Kids can also use the beads for matching and sorting, making it a great learning activity for 1 yr olds.

5. Toddler Painting Smock 2 Pack

A kids painting apron is crucial when doing arts and crafts for 1 year olds. These come in a pack of two, so there’s one to wear whilst the other is being washed. The art smock has pockets on the front, so children can keep all their art supplies close to hand. The smock is long and has long sleeves, so it is perfect for keeping the clothes clean underneath. The Velcro closure makes it easy to adjust the fit of the smock, and it’s also easy to put on and take off.

6. Magnetic Drawing Board

This magnetic doodle board is the perfect activity for 1 year olds at home. It allows children how to learn how to scribble and draw, without any of the mess! There’s also no risk of children chewing on crayons or pencils with the magnetic drawing board! The board is great because it can be used over and over again for years – it’s very environmentally friendly too.

The magnetic drawing board for toddlers has a carry handle – kids are sure to love carrying the board around to show everyone what they have made! It’s really easy to erase the drawings afterwards too – kids will love to slide the slider and watch their drawings magically disappear!

7. Toddler Painting Set

This kids painting set is a great art gift for 1 year olds. If your child loves to paint, they are sure to be delighted with all these paint brushes, rollers and tools. The toddler paint set also comes with six different colors of Crayola washable paint, so kids can start creating masterpieces straight away. The toddler paint brushes are just the right size for younger children to easily hold and grip. Every piece of the kids painting set is made from high quality and durable materials, so they are sure to last for years.

8. Crayola Washable Finger Paint

This crayola finger paint is a fantastic art supply for 1 year old children. A variety of colors are included, so kids can make any picture they can imagine! The paint bottles are easy to squeeze (although we recommend that adults do this part for young children!). The paints are washable, so there’s no need to worry about the mess that often comes along with finger painting. The texture of the paint is perfect for finger painting, although it can also be used with brushes and rollers if preferred.

9. Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel

The Melissa and Doug easel is great for art projects for 1 year olds. It has three different height adjustment levels, so it can be used from when your child is able to stand up, until they are of school age. There are loads of different ways your child can draw and create with this board. There’s a chalkboard on one side and a dry-wipe board on the other side.

There are also large clips at the top which can be used to hold up large sheets of paper. There is a tray on either side of the toddler easel to hold chalks, pens and other supplies. The trays can easily be removed for cleaning, too. The easel folds flat for easy storage, so it can be put away after use to save space.

10. Goliath Paint Station Easel

The Paint Station is an excellent way to introduce young children to painting without some of the mess. The kit includes paint pods, which don’t spill even when turned upside down! There is also an easel included which holds the paint pods in place, and can be used to hold a piece of paper in place for painting on.

The Paint Station Easel is great for taking on vacations, or when visiting friends or family. It folds up neatly and holds everything inside, and it will keep kids occupied for ages! The water based paint can easily be wiped from surfaces and will wash out of clothes and materials, so there’s no need to worry if your child hasn’t had much practice at painting yet!

11. Dauber Dawgs

These do a dot markers are perfect for children to make works of art! This set comes with some pages to color and decorate, and there are also many more available in PDF format on a digital download. The bingo pens are easy to hold and use, so even younger children are sure to love getting stuck in! They are non toxic and non spill, so they are safe for young children to use. There is a great range of colors included, so kids can create a beautiful rainbow artwork!

Things to consider in educational activities for 1 yr olds

There are a few things which are important to think about when looking for educational activities to try at home with a one year old. It’s important to ensure the activity is age-appropriate, otherwise it might be too difficult for them to enjoy properly.

Also make sure any materials used are safe for young children. Arts and crafts should always be supervised, as children this age still tend to enjoy tasting everything! Be sure there are no small parts in any craft sets you buy – these are not suitable until children are a bit older and no longer put things in their mouth. Items like small beads and buttons are not ideal for one yr olds.

What are fun art projects to do with a 1 year old?

There are loads of fun art projects you can enjoy with your 1 year old! Kids this age often love getting messy, so be sure they are wearing old clothes, or have a waterproof smock or overalls on. Making hand and foot prints using paints is something children this age usually really enjoy. They like to explore different textures too, so you could try letting them make things with feathers, or even ‘painting’ with food. This also has the benefit of being safe if they decide to taste anything!

One year old children are usually starting to develop the skills needed to scribble with crayons, too. So, get a box of different colors and a big piece of paper and let them go wild! Just be sure to protect the floor or table! You can also cut out shapes for gluing and sticking, to make collages and mosaics.

Unique Christmas art projects for one year olds

It’s really nice to be able to involve toddlers in the Christmas preparations. It’s fun to have them help make cards for friends and family, and the recipients are sure to be delighted too! Pine cones are fun to use in Christmas crafts, and children will love to go out for a walk to collect them. You can decorate them with glitter and glue, and hang them up or use them as part of a wreath.

How to pick toddler art supplies

When your child gets a little older, they might enjoy visiting the toy store to choose some art supplies with you. You can give them choices of different items which are safe to use and within your budget. This way, they will be more keen to take part in the activity if they have chosen it themselves!

It’s important to follow your child’s lead when it comes to art and craft, and let them do activities they enjoy, and don’t be disheartened if your child doesn’t seem interested. Some children aren’t really interested in some crafting activities at the age of 1, but keep trying and they will get there eventually!

Benefits of Art for Toddlers

Art has many benefits for young children. It’s a great way for parents and toddlers to spend some quality time together – you can focus all your attention on them without being distracted by other tasks. Toddlers can also practice many important skills when doing art projects, such as hand-eye co-ordination, concentration, fine motor skills and many more. They can also work on developing hand control and dexterity, which will help them learn to write later on.

Arts and crafts for toddlers can also help them gain confidence. When you tell them they are doing a great job or they see their artwork hanging up on the refrigerator, toddlers will feel so happy and proud!

Art activities for toddlers can also be useful to help grow and expand their vocabulary.You can ask them questions about what they are making or drawing, and they can also learn to recognize and name the different colors.

Last but not least, being allowed to make a bit of a mess from time to time is great fun for 1 year olds too!

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